UFC Fight Night 27 preview: Condit, Kampmann linked by more than just first bout

Four years ago, Martin Kampmann served as a measuring stick for Carlos Condit, and at least as far as the judges were concerned, Condit didn’t exactly measure up.

Making his UFC debut after a brief but celebrated run as champion in the lighter-weighted WEC, Condit was matched against Kampmann, who was 5-1 in the octagon and just getting back on his feet after a first-round TKO loss to Nate Marquardt.

In the headliner of UFC Fight Night 18 at Nashville, Tenn.’s Sommet Center, Condit (28-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) and Kampmann (20-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) fought a closely contested match over three rounds. But it was Kampmann who emerged with a split-decision win, and Condit’s momentum was temporarily halted.

These days, no one would say “The Natural Born Killer” is anything less than one of the world’s best welterweights. After his debut loss, Condit went on to win five straight bouts and captured the interim 170-pound title before Georges St-Pierre returned form an injury loss to defend his undisputed title. A subsequent loss to current No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks pushed Condit further down the ladder.

Kampmann squandered his career capital immediately after the Condit bout, losing quickly to slugger Paul Daley. He would recover briefly, and would later go on an impressive three-fight winning streak. But in two No. 1 contender matches, he stumbled badly against Jake Shields and Hendricks.

With two losses in common, it would appear he and Condit are not only linked by a previous bout, but their status as also-rans during a time in which St-Pierre and Hendricks occupy the top spots. In MMA, though, the need for reliable commodities might be as strong as for new blood, and with both fighters still in their prime, it’s conceivable either could have another title run in their future.

That’s why Kampmann and Condit’s rematch, which headlines UFC Fight Night 27 on Wednesday at Indianapolis’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse, isn’t irrelevant to the division. It’s a chance to see who stays in the running.

The event’s main card airs live on FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET) following prelims on FOX Sports 2 (6 p.m. ET) and Facebook (5 p.m. ET). The UFC returns to Indianapolis for the first time since the dreary UFC 119, which took place nearly three years ago at the same venue.

Fans shouldn’t expect the same type of snoozer when they watch Condit and Kampmann, who both mix styles but favor the striking game. But this time around, the two have five rounds to decide who’s the better man, which could mean it’s going to take longer to reach the same level of action seen in their first meeting.

A question is how much Kampmann and Condit have really changed since their first meeting. By all indications, they’re merely improved versions of themselves, as Kampmann pointed out in a pre-event interview. Although “The Hitman” said he’s trying to be quicker out of the gate, he shouldn’t be particularly worried about that with Condit, who traditionally isn’t the type to start swinging immediately at a fight’s start. What he should be worried about is getting caught with the surprise striking attacks more effectively utilized by Condit in his later career.

Kampmann might have a slight edge when it comes to offensive grappling, but he’s shown a historic weakness to fighters who can rock him with a solid punch. Four years ago against Condit, he didn’t have to worry about getting hit with the kind of shot that Daley caught him with. So many fights later, that might be a different story.

Indeed, Kampmann’s knockout loss to Hendricks this past November might prove to be a bigger psychological burden. Condit has never been knocked out. Both, however, have suffered multi-fight skids and bounced back. Now, it’s a question of who’s better prepared to do so.

Current betting lines have Condit as a 2-1 favorite, which likely means Kampmann’s history of TKO losses and inability to get a title shot is directing the flow of money.

Other main-card bouts

Donald Cerrone (20-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (19-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC): Although riding a four-fight win streak, this bout undoubtedly is the biggest opportunity of lightweight Brazilian dos Anjos’ career. Despite uneven performances when faced with division contenders, Cerrone is the type of opponent who puts you two or three bouts away from a title shot, which for dos Anjos, would come after several stumbles against top-tier competition. For Cerrone, it’s a chance to break back into the title picture after a TKO loss to Anthony Pettis ended a 6-1 streak in the UFC. “Cowboy” is hard to beat when he’s on point, but dos Anjos can’t be counted out. Cerrone’s standup advantage is evened out when the fight gets to the ground. Slim betting lines reflect the fight’s competitiveness.

Kelvin Gastelum ( 6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Brian Melancon (7-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC): Welterweight Gastelum makes his first appearance since winning “The Ultimate Fighter 17,” where he wrestled his way to victory over middleweight Uriah Hall. The matchup is as much of a test of Gastelum’s viability as a reality-show winner as it is a measure of Melancon’s potential. In his UFC debut, which came after a yearlong layoff from the sport, Melancon returned to the cage and showcased the kind of aggression that excites fans with a first-round TKO of Seth Bacynski. Now, he’ll get a chance to prove that he can keep wrestlers away so he can land bombs. Gastelum, who remains unbeaten, has met exceptional strikers in the form of Hall. But Melancon, who replaced an injured Paulo Thiago, might be a little more aggressive out of the gate.

Court McGee (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) vs. Robert Whittaker (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC): Now that “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Australia vs. Team U.K.” winner Whittaker is not just a flashy striker but a fighter capable of defending a takedown, the UFC gets the chance to see how he contends with McGee’s overall durability in the ring. McGee, who dropped down from middleweight in February and won his debut at welterweight, is a pressure fighter inside the cage and will keep coming forward, whether it be to shoot for a takedown or slug it out. It’s unknown how Whittaker’s takedown defense has evolved, but he needs it for this fight.

Takeya Mizugaki (17-7-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) vs. Erik Perez (13-4 MMA, 3-0 UFC): For the heavily hyped Mexican bantamweight Perez, it’s the stiffest test of his career after a trio of wins against unheralded competition in the UFC. Mizugaki doesn’t tend to get finished unless he’s fighting the best in the world, so Perez could be in for a long night. It’s certainly a winnable bout, but he’s unlikely to come out unscathed.

Brad Tavares (10-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) vs. Robert McDaniel (21-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC): Better known as “Bubba” on “TUF 17,” McDaniel rubbed a lot of people the wrong way as a veteran and teammate of champ Jon Jones at Team Jackson-Winkeljohn. Nevertheless, the UFC is giving him a chance to display the kind of promise that wasn’t present during the show. Tavares is a longtime veteran in the sport and has only lost a split decision to Aaron Simpson, so he’s got the skills. He just needs to use them against Tavares, who’s not only a power puncher but a decent defensive artist on the feet. And Tavares has won three straight in the UFC, unlike McDaniel, who graduated from “TUF 17″ to submit fellow castmate Gilbert Smith. It might be the night for Tavares to showcase his viability as a welterweight.

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